Beyoncé did not sing the national anthem live at President Obama’s inauguration

Beyoncé sang the national anthem at yesterday’s inauguration ceremony for President Obama and received overwhelming praise for her performance, ranging from Business Insider (“It was just amazing”) to TMZ (“f*cking awesome”).

Beyoncé’s Instagram photo of herself in a recording studio with members of the Marine Corps Band.But to close observers, it appeared the performer was not singing live. To press seated just below the podium, in front of the “President’s Own” Marine Corps Band, it was evident that the band wasn’t actually playing during the song—even though band director Colonel Michael J. Colburn was conducting energetically and the band members mimicked blowing into their instruments. Separately, at one point during her performance, Beyoncé removed her earpiece.

...UPDATE January 22, 11:45 AM: The London Times has confirmed our theory that Beyoncé was, in fact, lip syncing. See the video via YouTube.

UPDATE January 22, 12:10 PM: "We don't know why Beyoncé decided to use prerecorded music," a spokesperson for the Marine Corps Band told us this morning. "All music is prerecorded as a matter of course, and that's something we've done for years and years. The Marine Band did perform live throughout the ceremony but we received last-minute word that Beyoncé wanted to use the recording." The spokesperson also added that everyone knows Beyoncé is a gifted singer, and her decision has no bearing on her musical ability.

36. Exactly

41. Whether someone can sing live on a given date and temperature...

...is a different story.

People are, unfortunately, not machines.

One of the hazards of live inaugural performances is the temperature. James Taylor's guitar, for example, sounded to me as if it had been in the cold too long and not re-tuned. Musical instruments warp from thermal effects, and singers can develop throat problems.

119. I'm with you, jberryhill..

I'm a James Taylor fan (yes, I admit it) but I've certainly heard him sound better.
Beyonce was singing a far more demanding song (it's a killer to sing, even in a chorus) and she uses a whole lot more of herself, vocally. Anyway, I thought she sounded wonderful, and I would have hated it if the cold, stress, a misbehaving mic, whatever, had distracted us from the beauty of the event itself.

110. Yep.

4. Many performances at Inaugurals are pre-recorded due to the really awful conditions and the cold.

Her version was wonderful,live or not. From the last inauguration:
"The somber, elegiac tones before President Obama’s oath of office at the inauguration on Tuesday came from the instruments of Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman and two colleagues. But what the millions on the Mall and watching on television heard was in fact a recording, made two days earlier by the quartet and matched tone for tone by the musicians playing along.

12. It is common

Also done at big events like the Super Bowl.

However, a part of me is a little skeptical about the lip-synching. First, the news originally came from the Times of London, which is a Murdoch newspaper that pretends to not be trashy. In addition, read the comment left by a sound engineer experienced in this sort of thing:

The choir, with only a few trained musicians, is drawn from the congregation, which includes a multiracial mix of lawyers, doctors and other professionals from brownstone Brooklyn, but also former crack addicts and homeless people from other neighborhoods.

Awesome.

I say bring in a Gay Men's Chorus for the next Democratic inauguration, preferably from NYC or San Fran. Soaring voices and wingnuts twisted in a bunch -- a two-fer.

79. i thought James Taylor and the woman who sang Hymn republican were the best

99. Yes but...

The thing is Kelly Clarkson's vocal performance would still win, despite the pressures of live singing and difficult weather conditions. In terms of vocalists, on paper, she's in a different league - shes naturally gifted, the only current pop star that can consistently sustain g5-a5 notes live. Beyonce just can't, she doesn't even come close. She can have all of the discipline, the echo effects, the showmanship, and the connections - at the end of the day she will always be a marginally talented vocalist.

Kelly's voice may not be everyone's cup of tea, but that doesn't take away the fact that she is an impressive singer - what she can do is rare in the pop scene.

61. What really annoys me is that there are so many really talented people that

can't break through the industry firewalls.

I lived in LA for many years and worked (peripherally) in the entertainment industry for much of that time. Believe me, there are literally thousands of stunningly talented people in every art that we will never know of just because they don't have the right parents or won't fuck the right people.

76. O, FGS. Maybe that's the question to Pus Limbaugh.

83. Who cares what Limbaugh has to say?

I just thought it was an interesting question. Personally, if I went to the inauguration it wouldn't be to watch Beyonce sing, that's for sure, thus I wouldn't/don't care whatsoever what she chooses to do. But lip syncing under the pretense that you're performing live is kind of a scam. I guess we're not allowed to discuss such minor considerations on internet forums.

105. It isn't a trivial response, it's a dig

As a non fan of Beyonce's music and personality, I don't give a damn if she lipsynced. It's what 99% of everyone does when they sing the anthem at a big deal event. Not only was my money not wasted, I also don't think they get paid anything but expenses.

107. It wasn't intended as a dig

I don't care one bit what Beyonce does. I was merely being sarcastic. No need to worry about it. And I also have no idea what kind of compensation these 'artists' get for performing at such ceremonies, if any.

But I would find it ironic if they were paid to perform without, actually, uhm, performing.

96. She actually didn't rock it, though

It was pretend rocking it. Kelly's vocal wasn't perfect, or the best I've ever heard her, but she had the guts to go out there and really sing the song. It was raw and heartfelt and real. Though both women are crazy talented, I'm not a big fan of their music, FWIW, but I lost respect for Beyonce. How many other performances has she lip-synced to and no one knew?

104. You didn't read what I wrote

It only makes a difference for posters who have said Clarkson sucked (she didn't), and that Beyonce brought it (which she did -- she performed, and she recorded the track).

Seriously, EVERYONE prerecords the "Banner," and very few don';t use the track. The Dixie Chicks didn't, and I don't think Clarkson did when she sang it at a game. But, it is VERY RARE for someone singing the Star Spangled Banner not to lipsync to a track. The famous Whitney House Banner rendition was also lipsynced, and that was sold as a single.

Beyonce can sing quite well live. I see this as a total non issue, except for commentators wishing to criticize yesterday's proceedings in some way.

Which she did. It doesn't matter if a lot of singers lip sync at these big outdoor events, it's about integrity. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter that much, but what a lot of people now wonder, is how many other times has she pretended to sing in what are advertised as live performances.

93. LOL!

98. Meh.

I believe we may have just found the silliest thing one could possibly complain about happening at the inauguration. We should probably stop finding new things now, lest we rend the fabric of space-time and wake up tomorrow to President Barbara Bush.

The only way this story could possibly be amusing is if a huge dose of irony were injected. Like if she got caught lip-syncing "Girl You Know It's True" or something.

100. Beyonce is plastic

People need to stop defending Beyonce, she is not a reflection of Obama and this is not a suprise to those who actually follow pop culture. She is a notirous phoney. She has a reputation for stealing writting credits, songs, paying for grammys, and just about anything that will enhance her resume.